Pence stayed at Trump's Irish resort at the president's "suggestion"

Vice President Pence opted to stay at the Trump International Golf Club in Doonbeg during his 2-day trip to Ireland — even though he is meeting with officials 180 miles away in Dublin, reports Reuters.

Why it matters: Pence's chief of staff Marc Short told reporters Tuesday that President Trump had "a suggestion" that Pence stay at his resort, even as the administration faces criticism for spending taxpayer dollars — and influencing foreign and domestic officials to choose to frequent — at Trump properties, per The Washington Post.

Pence's family is originally from Doonbeg, which led to Trump's statement that he should stay there, according to Short. He added that, while Pence's stay is covered by taxpayer money, the vice president paid out of pocket to cover the cost of travel for his mother and sister.

Short also argued that the Secret Service "[knows] the logistics around" Doonbeg already because Trump has stayed there in the past.

The big picture: Congressional Democrats are investigating Trump's proposal to host the 2020 G7 summit at Trump National Doral near Miami, arguing that it would violate the Constitution's emoluments clause.

Go deeper

Protesters gather north of Lafayette Square near the White House during a demonstration against racism and police brutality, in Washington, D.C. on Saturday evening. Photo: Jose Luis Magana/AFP via Getty Images

Tens of thousands of demonstrators have been rallying in cities across the U.S. and around the world to protest the killing of George Floyd. Huge crowds assembled in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Chicago for full-day events on Saturday.

Despite a ban on large gatherings implemented in response to the coronavirus pandemic, protesters rally against racism in front of the American Embassy in Paris on June 6. Photo: Julien Mattia/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Tens of thousands of people have continued to rally in cities across the world against racism and show their support this week for U.S. demonstrators protesting the death in police custody of George Floyd.